The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday, ordered that the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, be remanded to a Department of State Service (DSS) facility, pending the determination of his trial.
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Justice Binta Nyako gave the order after counsel to the Federation (AGF), Shuaibu Labaran, told the court that the defendant (Kanu), who jumped bail, had been arrested and produced in court.
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Labaran urged the court for an order detaining the arrested IPOB leader at the DSS facility pending the hearing and determination of the matter.
Justice Nyako, who granted the plea, adjourned the matter until July 26 for trial continuation.
However, no sooner had the judge ruled than Kanu indicated his interest to talk.
He told the court that he decided to go underground because his house was raided, but he could escape.
Kanu said if he had not escaped, he might have been killed like other group members.
The judge, who advised him not to feel discomfiture to stand his trial, urged him to get across to his lawyer for the trial.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Kanu was arrested on Oct. 14, 2015, on 11 count charges bordering on terrorism, treasonable felony, managing an unlawful society, publication of defamatory matter, and illegal possession of firearms and improper importation of goods, among others.
A judge at the Federal High Court, Abuja, revoked Kanu’s bail granted him on health grounds and issued a bench warrant for his arrest on the same date over his failure to appear in court for the hearing.
He has, upon jumping bail, been accused of engaging in subversive activities that include inciting violence through television, radio and online broadcasts against Nigeria and Nigerian State and institutions.
Kanu was also accused of instigating violence, especially in Southeastern Nigeria, that resulted in the loss of lives and property of civilians, military, paramilitary, police forces and destruction of civil institutions and symbols of authorities. (NAN)
